A32022:94
The happiness of those who sleep in Jesus, or, The benefit that comes to…The happinesse of those who sleep in Jesus, or, The benefit that comes to…
The happiness of those who sleep in Jesus, or, The benefit that comes to the dead bodies of the saints even while they are in the grave, sleeping in Jesus delivered in a sermon preached at the funeral of ... Lady Anne Waller, at the new church in Westminst[er], Oct. 31, 1661 : together with the testimony then given unto her / by Edm. Calamy ...The happinesse of those who sleep in Jesus, or, The benefit that comes to the dead bodies of the saints even while they are in the grave, sleeping in Jesus delivered in a sermon preached at the funeral of ... Lady Anne Waller, at the new church in Westminst[er], Oct. 31, 1661 : together with the testimony then given unto her / by Edm. Calamy ...
London: printed by J.H. for Nathanael Webb, 1662
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Answ. It is true, Their bodies are not utterly destroyed, but remain, not by virtue of their Union with Christ, but preserved by the Almighty power of God as a terrible Lord, and severe Judge, and remain, as in a prison, till the great day of Judgment, in which they shall appear before Christ, and then be condemned to hell. Happy were it for a wicked man if his body were annihilated by death, (as it were happy for a Traitor if he died in Prison, and escaped hanging.) But herein consisteth the difference between him and a man asleep in Jesus, A man out of Christ is not properly preserved in the grave, but rather reserved by the power of Christ to be afterwards tormented in hell: But a man in Christ is not only reserved, but by virtue of his Union with Christ, ⟨p. 12⟩and preserved to enjoy Eternal glory with their souls at the Great Day of Judgment.
Answ. It is true, Their bodies are not utterly destroyed, but remain, not by vertue of their Union with Christ, but preserved by the Almighty power of God as a terrible Lord, and severe Iudge, and remain, as in a prison, till the great day of Judgment, in which they shall appear before Christ, and then be condemned to hell. Happy were it for a wicked man if his body were annihilated by death, (as it were happy for a Traytor if he died in Prison, and escaped hanging.) But herein consisteth the difference between him and a man asleep in Jesus, A man out of Christ is not properly preserved in the grave, but rather reserved by the power of Christ to be afterwards tormented in hell: But a man in Christ is not only reserved, but by vertue of his Union with Christ, ⟨p. 12⟩and preserved to enjoy Eternal glory with their souls at the Great Day of Judgment.
4. He that sleepeth in Jesus hath this benefit also, That though his body lieth rotting in the grave, yet his soul is all the while in heaven, where it enjoyeth the glorious presence of God, and of his Saints and Angels: I say, his soul, which is his best half, which is the Man of man, is in heaven. Indeed, his body, which is but as the Box and Carcass, is in the grave; but the substance and Jewel is in heaven.